Paul C. Buff Cyber Commander CyberSync Initial Set Up

While the Cyber Commander CyberSync System is proving easy in use once configured, initial setup out of the box for me here in Phoenix with Paul C. Buff’s Flash Trigger Transmitter and Receivers was not at all intuitive. Having read the instruction manual, I turned the unit on and was baffled.

Needing to get the units ready for a glamour photo shoot, I called the factory. Lucky for me, the very pleasant gurus on Buff’s technical support staff were patient, clear and quite helpful over several phone calls. While a lengthy setup process the first time through, I have broken down the learning into a fairly long yet simple recipe format.

Here is how you go about setting up the unit once you have installed batteries…

CyberSync

With your Lights OFF, use a fingernail to twist the dial marked “frequency” on the CyberSync, which corresponds with remote to commander radio frequency. In my case, I chose FREQUENCY 2. The cut out in the screw slot is where the channel selector is pointing.

Using the”channel” dial, chose a unique channel to use within this FREQUENCY 2, in my case CH 01.

On your flash units, Set all model lights on at full power

On your flash units, Set all model lights to track.

On your flash units, Set recycle indicators on.

If a power corded remote unit, plug the CyberSync into your power source THEN plug the power cord from the CyberSync to the flash.

Turn on the power to your Flash Units. Failure to follow steps 3-5 before steps 6-7 results in unpredictable outputs and triggers.

If using a Buff light, connect together receiver and light using the cord with the male RJ-11 telephone jacks on both ends in the obvious female sockets on CyberSync and Buff flash unit. This step is highly recommended to occur after steps 3-7.

If not a Buff flash, use the appropriate cord with metal jacks, either the 3.5mm to 1/4″ cord or the 3.5mm to 3.5mm cord, to connect the Remote to the Flash. In this case of a non Buff Flash, you will not be able to control flash power outputs from the Cyber Commander remotely.

If using a Buff unit, and you would like the units not to fire using the Optical Slave Eye, also insert one of the metal jacked cords into the slave or sync female receptacles on the Buff Flash. Leave the other end of the cord free.

Set additional CyberSyncs on the same exact Frequency and set each CyberSync to a different, unique channel by repeating each CyberSync steps 1-10

Cyber Commander

Setup Menu Cyber Commander

There are 3 Main Menus one can access by use of the Right Button (RB) at the bottom of the Cyber Commander

First press any button. This wakes the unit up and lights screen and comes active on the first menu, which is the Flash Menu

Next, press the Right Button (RB) to the left once, or to the right twice (there are three revolving menus). This takes you to the Setup Menu

Toggle the RB up or down (TU/D) to scroll to “Frequency” and press in on the RB.

RB TU/D to select the appropriate frequency, that matches the one set on the receivers.

RB TL/R once to exit the frequency screen and return to the Setup Menu.

RB, TU/D to scroll to the “Open Memory” menu and push in RB.

LB TL/R to scroll to word “Studio” in the lower left. The order of revolving options is Internal 1, Internal 2, Studio, CH1-16, SD1-SD50 back to Internal 1, etc.

With Studio Selected, Press in on RB. The words “Opening from Studio” should appear. “Finished Opening” should appear after a few seconds.

White or gray dashes should appear at the very bottom of the graph under the channels which were selected on the receivers. At this point, it is unimportant if they are white or gray. What you now have is a “Studio” or a kind of blank slate for programming your lights.

RB TL/R to get to SETUP MENU. RB TU/D until SPEC LIGHTS is highlighted and click on it by pressing the RB in, this takes you to Define Light Unit Menu

Use the Left Button (LB), toggled left or right (TL/R), to pick up the first light you will set up, corresponding the appropriate CyberSync. Recall this was Channel 1. So, I set my first light on CH 01 on the Cyber Commander

Next, use the RB TU/D to select which kind of light system this setting will control (Alien Bee, White Lightning, Other, etc) and press RB in once. My first light was a White Lightning.

Using the RB TU/D to select which specific light you have within the lighting system, and if a White Lightning, whether it is on full or 1/4 power, press RB to select. Mine was a White Lighting 3200 at full power.

Now you are in a menu where you select the modeling light wattage using the RB TU/D. Click the RB, and you are back to the Define Light Unit Menu

To set up additional Lights, Toggle the Left Menu Button (LB) TL/R to choose the next channel, usually CH 02, and repeat the step 11-15 above to configure the remainder of your lights

RB TU/D to highlight LIGHT SETTINGS and press RB which puts you in LIGHT UNIT SETTINGS MENU. This menu can adjust a number of features on the flash unit/units selected. If the unit is already set to a mode you prefer, be sure to Toggle the selector off the desired setting then back to the desired setting to insure reinitializaion of your choice.

LB TL/R to select a particular flash unit, or ALL flash units, if they are all to be set identically.

RB TU/D to highlight MODEL MODE,

LB TU/D, and highlight what you would like your modeling lights to do.

Repeat steps 17-20 for each light setup, if necessary (all units may have been set simultaneously using “ALL” per step 18.

RB TU/D to highlight “Power” setting.

LB TU/D to select Power On. This is where any gray dashes mentioned in step 9 will turn white. If on steps 18-23, in setting multiple lights, and the screen indicates your desired setting is already set, toggle to another option, then back to your desired setting. (Example, if the Cyber Commander indicates Power “ON,” toggle power to “STANDBY” then to “ON.” This is necessary if multiple lights have different settings to resync them all to the same setting.

Once done with the Light Unit Settings, RB TL/R once and we are back to the SETUP Menu

RB TU/D to highlight SAVE AS and press RB, which takes you to a SAVE ALL TO MEMORY MENU

LB TL/R to choose a memory location, in my case I choose internal 1, and RB Toggle Down to save your settings.

We’re almost shooting now.

Adjusting and Shooting

Modeling Light Menu Cyber Commander

RB TL/R to get into the FLASH MENU

LB T/LR to choose a channel (corresponding to one of your CyberSync Flash setups)

LB TU/D to set flash output for this channel

Repeat 2-3 to set flash output for each CyberSync

[Steps 5-7 are only necessary in one of the following 3 conditions: You selected ADJ in the model mode option; You wish to have model lamps brighter or lower than the corresponding relative power of the flash; or, You want to correct WYSIWYG ratios of lights of varying model lamp and/or flash power.] RB TL/R to get into MODEL MENU

LB T/LR to choose a channel (corresponding to one of your CyberSync Flash setups)

Hold back of Cyber Commander, the white semi dome, where your subject will be facing your camera position, press RB and the Cyber Commander will work as a flash meter for any lights selected in step 10

Thank you SO much for taking the time to explain this in detail! Much like the commenters above I had bought mine and just ended up packing mine away out of complete frustration…until I found your website!

Thanks for the instructions. I too bought the Cyber Commander set-up for all my White Lightnings and finally gave up on trying to figure this mess out and went back to my old RC transmitters which needed no instructions.

I just can’t believe that PCB would put out a product with this much complexity and not publish a series of instructional videos on their website including real-world examples. I am beginning to wonder if “anyone” is even scratching the surface of what these could do due to lack of clear instructions! I was all set to purchase some more strobes from PCB, but that is on hold until I feel confident with these new controls.